The wind rose suddenly. A deep rumble echoed through the ruins, as if the earth itself was holding its breath.
Eryndal did not move. He stared at his double, this impossible reflection of himself, whose palm, marked by an abyssal darkness, pulsed softly.
— So? the other Eryndal hissed. Are you going to run away?
A smile distorted his face, a smile that was anything but human.
— Or are you going to prove that you still deserve to exist?
Darek drew his sword fully, his hard gaze shifting from one Eryndal to the other.
— This bastard's a threat, I can feel it.
Elion placed a hand on his arm.
— Wait.
— Wait for what?! It's a copy, and he clearly wants to fight!
Alessia positioned herself beside Eryndal, ready to act if necessary. Her gaze shifted between distrust and confusion.
— Eryndal… what the hell is going on?
But he did not respond.
He knew.
There was nothing more to say.
His other self did not move, but his aura intensified abruptly. The air around him grew denser, heavier.
— Show me what you're worth.
Without warning, he extended his hand.
A black lightning shot forward.
Eryndal only had time to dodge to the side. The attack crashed behind him, shattering the stone in a muffled explosion.
Darek leaped back, breathless.
— Okay, it's official, he wants to kill us.
Eryndal straightened, his muscles taut with tension.
His other self was still staring at him, motionless.
Then he disappeared.
A breath.
Eryndal raised his arm instinctively.
Impact.
His other self appeared in front of him with blinding speed. His fist slammed against his forearm, the shockwave sending a force ripple through the air.
Eryndal staggered back under the impact, but his opponent gave him no respite.
A second blow. A left hook that grazed his temple.
He retaliated with a kick, but his double easily blocked it and countered in turn, his black palm brushing his chest.
Eryndal felt the burn before the attack even touched him.
It was different magic.
Magic that sought to consume him from the inside.
He jumped backward, his breath ragged.
The other Eryndal lifted his head, a smirk on his lips.
— Is that all?
Eryndal clenched his fists.
— Don't underestimate me.
The red energy around his hand intensified.
He charged.
The clash was brutal.
They exchanged blows at a staggering speed, their strikes creating shockwaves in the air.
Each attack from the other Eryndal was precise, calculated. He wasn't striking at random. He was testing.
Eryndal understood too late.
His double grabbed his arm.
A smile.
Then he pulled.
Impact.
The black fist struck Eryndal's chest directly.
An excruciating pain. As if something was being ripped from within him.
Eryndal spat blood and fell to one knee.
Darek immediately charged.
— You filthy bastard!
His sword sliced through the air… but only met emptiness.
The other Eryndal had vanished.
Then, he reappeared behind Darek.
— Too slow.
A sharp blow.
Darek was thrown several meters, rolling on the ground before coming to a stop with a groan.
— Darek! Alessia shouted.
She rushed forward, her blade crackling with energy.
The other Eryndal was waiting for her.
She attempted a quick strike, aiming for his flank.
He dodged with a simple sidestep.
A backhand.
She leapt backward, narrowly avoiding his black palm.
But he was too fast.
A second assault.
This time, she couldn't avoid it completely.
The black hand grazed her arm.
Burn.
A cry escaped her as she quickly retreated.
Her skin… it was marked, as if the shadow had consumed it on the spot.
Elion extended his hand and a barrier of bluish energy rose between them.
— Stay back, he warned.
His gaze was fixed on the other Eryndal, more intense than ever.
— This is no ordinary enemy.
The other Eryndal smiled, amused.
— You're starting to understand.
Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward Eryndal, still on his knee.
— But you…
He approached.
— You haven't seen anything yet.
He extended his hand.
A shiver of terror ran through Eryndal.
It was as if his soul was screaming, sensing a danger far greater than a mere fight.
His double was offering him a hand.
— Stand up. And I'll show you… what you still refuse to accept.
Eryndal gritted his teeth.
His body screamed for him to stop.
His mind ordered him to flee.
But his instinct…
His instinct told him he had no choice.
So, he extended his hand in return.
And the world tilted.